Electroplating apparatus



Nov. 2l', 1933. J 'r DANIELS 1,936,382

l ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS Filed June 6, 1932 2 sheets-Sheet 1 ATToRNEYS.

Nov. 2l, 1933.

.l. T. DANIELs ELECTROLATING APPARATUS Filed June'e, 1932 ,2 sheen-sheenl 2 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE YS.

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 9 Claims.

This invention relates particularly to electroplating apparatus of the type including a tank for containing electrolytic solution, and a permeable or perforate container or tumbling barrel to receive the articles to be plated, mounted with respect to the tank `so that the container selectively can bev rotatably suspended inthe electrolytic solution in the tank and removed from said solution. In many such constructions it is necessary to disconnect and remove the container from its mounting for lling and discharging the container, which makes operation slow and difllcult and may lead to injury of the operators hands by contact with the electrolyte. Furthermore, the arrangement of the mounting means at one end of the container shaft causes undue strains on said shaft and mounting mea One object of the present invention is to provide electroplating apparatus of this character embodying novel and improved features of construction whereby the container for the articles to be plated is mounted for rotation about one axis and for oscillation about another axis so that the container selectively can be rotatably suspended in the electrolytic solution and swung upwardly out of said solution for iilling and discharging and for inspecting the condition of the articles without the necessity for disconnecting or removing the container from its mounting, whereby filling and discharging of the container can be accomplished easily and quickly, and the articles may be inspected at any time without difculty.

Another object is to provide such electroplating apparatus wherein the container for the articles to be plated has a filling and discharging opening at one end which is disposed uppermost when the container is suspended in the electro- 40 lytic solution, and said container is mounted to oscillate so that it selectively can be suspended in the solution or swung upwardly out of the solution into partially inverted positionfor dumping the articles from the container through said iilling and discharging opening by action of gravity, or into an intermediate position for charging the container or draining the electrolyte therefrom or inspecting the articles.

A further object is to provide electroplating apparatus of the speciiic character described, including novel and improved means for releasably holding the container for the articles to be plated in a position intermediate the position in which tthe container is suspended in the solution and the dumping position, so that the articles to be plated can be inserted through said filling and discharging opening into the container.-

Further objects are to provide in an electroplating apparatus the combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution, of a permeable or perf orate container for articles to be plated, which is mounted for rotation about one axis and for oscillation about another axis lying at one side of the container above the solution in said tank ,transversely of said axis of rotation and intermediate the ends of the container so that'said container selectively can be suspended in the solution and swung upwardly out of said solution and the strains on the mounting means shall be widely distributed; and to provide means i'or 70 so mounting said container including a shaft journaled on a horizontal axis above the solution of the tank at one side of the container, said shaft having lateral arms provided with support bearings to receive coaxial bearing spindles at opposite ends of the container.

Other objects are to provide in such electroplating apparatus novel and improved means for .rotating the container when the latter is suspended in the electrolytic solution, said means comprising agear element connected to the container and a driving element journaled on a ilxed support, for example, on one side of said tank, said gear element being automatically operatively connected and disconnected to and from said 85 driving element when the container is suspended in the said solution and swung upwardly therefrom respectively; to provide in electroplating apparatus of this character novel and improved means for rotatably mounting the container for V the articles to be plated in a bearing frame; to provide a novel and improved construction and combination of a container for articles to be plated and a cathode; and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the Iollowing description.

For the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention I have shown it embodied in one form of apparatus, but it should be understood. L that this is primarily for the purpose of illusl00 trating the principles of the invention and that many modiications and changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. l

Referring to said drawings in which corre- 105 sponding and like parts parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout ,the several views,

Figure l is a top plan view of an electroplating apparatus embodying my invention, showing the container for the articles to be plated suspended in the electrolytic solution.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2'-2 of Figure 1, showing the container suspended in the solution by solid lines and swung upwardly out of the solution into dumping position by dot and dash lines.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus showing the container in its filling 4or charging position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the container viewing the same from the line 5--5 of Figure 2. A

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the container on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 'I is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the container on the line '7 7 of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the reference character A designates a tank for'containing an electrolytic solution. This tank may be of any suitable shape, but as shown is preferably rectangular. The reference character B designates a container or tumbling barrel for the articles to be plated, which may be of any suitable construction but is preferably cylindrical and cup-shaped and.

formed of insulating or non-conductive material which is also resistant to the action of the electrolytic solution; for example, the container may be bakelite. The container also has permeable or perforate side walls and is open at one end for fiilling and discharging.

In accordance with the invention, this container or tumbling barrel is mounted to rotate about its axis and is also oscillatably mounted about another axis so that the container selectively can be rotatablyv suspended in the solution in the tank A or swung upwardly out of the solution for dumpingand lling. More specifitricity Iside of the container.

cally, the container has a trunnion plate 1 secured to the outside of the bottom as by means of screws 2 preferably formed of insulating material. This trunnion plate has a trunnion or spindle 3 which is coaxial with the container.` The cathode plate 4 is secured to the inside of the bottom of the container as by screws 5 which project through open`- ings in the bottom of the container and have cap nuts 6 screwed thereto against the outside of the bottom;` These cap nuts are preferably of insulating material. A spindle or shaft '1 of elecconducting material is connected to the cathode plate coaxial with the trimnion or spindle 3 and projects upwardly beyond the open end of the container.

For mounting the container on the tank A, I

,have shown a shaft 8 which has trunnions 9 at its ends which are journaled in bearings 10 on the -top ofthe tank. The intermediate portion of the shaft is preferably polygonal in cross section and has connected thereto a bearing support arm 11 which has a bearing 12 receiving the 'spindle 3. Also secured to the shaft 8 and projecting laterally therefrom inthe direction bearing support arm 11, are a pair of bearing support arms 13, one at each These arms 13 are connected by a tie-bar 14 which has an insulating hearing bushing 15 mounted therein to receive the spindle '7 beyond the open end of the container. The shaft 8 is at one side of the container,

B above the solution in the tank transverse of the Preferably the container is suspended -in the solution with its axis of rotation oblique to the horizontal, since such an arrangement has many important advantages in the electroplating operation, particularly in agitating the electrolyte.

In operation, assuming that the container has been charged with articles to be plated and is suspended in the solution as shown by solid lines in Figure 2, when it is desired to empty the conf tainer, it is'merely necessary to swing the container and mounting frame, including the shaft 8 and bearing supportarms 1l and 13, about the axis of the shaft 8, upwardly out of the solution into the partially inverted position shown by dot and dash lines in Figure 2f With the container in this position, the articles will be`discharged 100 therefrom by action of gravity. Asuitable receptacle C may be mounted on a bracket D on' one side of the tan to receive the articles so discharged from the container, and an-apron 16 may be mounted on the top of the tank to guide the articles into the receptacle C.

Anotherfeature of the invention is that the container may be temporarily releasably held out of the solution -for charging of the container with other articles to be plated. After the plated 110 articles have been dumped from the container, the container may be swung downwardly towardv the solution into the position shown in Figures 3 of the drawings with the open end of the container facing upwardly, sc that articles to M plated can be easily placed in the container. For releasably holding the container in this position, I have shown a detent arm l'l on one end of the shaft 8 with which cooperates a latch 18 which is pivotally mounted at 19 on a-bracket 20 secured 120 on the top of the tank. This latch is clearly' shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings and comprises preferably a strip'of insulating ma, terial pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one end 21 lying inavthe path of move. 125 ment'of the detent arm 1'1.v The lother end ofv the latch normally rests upon the top of the tank to serve as a stop to limit upward swinging of the end 2l. As the container is swung into its dumping position, the detent arm 17 pushes the 130 end 21 of the latch downwardly into the position shown by dot and dash lines in Figure 4 so that the detent armpasses the latch. Upon back-I ward swingingof the container, the arm 1'? enf gages under the end 21 of the latch so that 135 further movement of the container in the sainev direction is prevented, -as is clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. After the container has been charged with articles to be plated, the.l latch 18 may be swung by a handle 22 into the 140 position shown by dot and dash lines in Figure 4 so as to move the end 21 out of the path of the detent arm 1'7 andpermit the container to swing downwardly into the solution.

Any suitable means may be provided for oscil- 145. lating the container on its mounting frame, but I have shown a handle lever 23 which is rigidly connected to one end of the shaft 8 to serve as a means for rotating the shaft.`

ing the container while the latter is suspended in the solution, but I have shown a worm gear 24'on the spindle 7 which meshes with a worm. 25 journaled in a bracket 26 whichl is insulated from the tank. The gear 24 and the worm 25 are so related that when the container is swung downwardly into the solution, the worm gear 24 automatically engages theworm, while when the container is swung upwardly from the solution,

. the worm gear 24 is disconnected from the worm.

The worm may be driven from any suitable source of power as by a belt connected to a pulley 3 8 which is mounted on the shaft of the worm. It will be observed that with the arrangement of parts so far described, the worm gear 24 will be influenced into engagement with the worm 25 by action of gravity on the container and the mounting frame. Similarly, the container will be held in a dumping position by action of gravity.

If desired, a bifurcated bearing block 27 may be provided to support the spindle '7, and a spring 28 may be arranged in the bearing block to resiliently and releasably hold the spindle in the bearing block.

The apparatus includes the usual anodes 29 which may be suspended in the electrolytic lsolution from rods 30 which are supported in insulating bushings 31 on the tank, and one terminal 32 of electric circuit may be connected to the rods 30. The other terminal 33 may be connected to the bearing bracket 26. The current may then ilow from the terminal 32 to the anodes, through the solution to the cathode plate 4 through the spindle 7 and gearing 24 and 25 and the bracket 26 to the terminal 33.

Preferably the cathode includes as an annular exposed conductive portion 34 which is concentric with the axis of,rotation of the container and has a. plurality of radial arms 35 which project from the bottom of the container. portion of the cathode plate may be covered with an insulating compound 36 and preferably the portion of the spindle '7 within the container is also insulated by a coating 37.

In operation of the apparatus, during plating o articles in the container B, the container is constantly rotated by the worm 25 and worm gear The articles being plated are tumbled about in the container by centrifugal action and by agitation produced by the radial arms 35. The relatively small and widely distributed area of the annular portion 34 and said radial arms of the cathode provide a rapidly repetitive contact of the articles with the cathode for short periods of time which greatly enhances the speed and quality of the plating of the articles.

While I have shown the container mounted directly on the tank, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the container may be mounted on a separate frame beneath which various tanks may be removably and interchangeably located so that different electroplating solutions can be utilized with the same container without the necessity for emptying the tank.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution, of a permeable rotatable container for articles to be plated, means mounting said container for rotation about one axis and for oscillation about another axis lying above the container and the solution in said tank transversely of said axis of rotation and intermediate the ends of the container so that said container selectively can be to be plated, and having a filling and discharg- The central i suspended in the solution in said tank and swung upwardly out of said solution, and means for rotating said container. 2. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution, of a permeable rotatable container for articles to be plated, a mounting frame having a support bearing at each end of said container to permit rotation of the container, means mounting said frame for oscillation about an axis lying above said container and the solution in said tank transversely of the axis of rotation of said container and intermediate said bearings so that the container selectively can be suspended in the solution in said tank and swung upwardly out of said solution, and means for rotating said container.

3. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution, of a permeable rotatable container for articles ing opening at one end, means mounting said container for rotation about Van axis extending longitudinally of the container and for oscillation about another axis lying at one side of said container above the solution in said tank transversely of said axis of rotation so that said container selectively can be suspended in one position in the solution in said tank with said end uppermost and swung upwardly out of said solution into another and partially inverted position to dump the articles from said container through said opening, means for rotating said container, and means for holding said container in a third position intermediate said suspended and said partially inverted position .to permit articles to be inserted into the container through said opening.

4. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution, of a permeable container for articles to be plated and having ,coaxial bearing spindles at opposite ends thereof, a shaft journaled on a horizontal axis above said container and the solution in said tank perpendicular to an axial plane of said bearing spindles, and arms projecting from said shaft and' having bearings receiving said 'bearing spindles whereby said container selectively can be suspended in the solution invsaid tank and swung upwardly out of said solution, and means for rotating said container.

5. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution, of a permeable rotatable container for articles to be plated, means mounting said container for rotation about one axis and for oscillation about 13G another axis lying above the container and the solution in said tank transversely of said axis of rotation and intermediate the ends of the container so that said container selectively can be suspended inthe solution in said tank and swung upwardly out of said solution', means for rotating said container, -and latch means for releasably holding said container in its position above said solution.

6. In an electroplating apparatus, theI combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution, of a permeable container for articles to be plated and having coaxial bearing spindles at opposite ends thereof, a shaft journaled on a horizontal axis above the solution in `said tank and above said container perpendicular to an axial plane of said bearing spindles, arms projecting from said shaft and'having bearings receiving said bearing spindles, whereby said containerselec tively can be suspended in the'solution in said 150 means for rotating said container, a detent arm on said shaft, and a latch to releasabiy engage 'said detent arm and hold said container in its position above said solution.

7. In an electroplating apparatus, the' combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution, of a cup-shaped permeable non-conductive container for articles to be plated, a cathode arranged within and on the bottom of said container and having a conductive bearing spindle, bolts connected to said cathode plate and projecting through openings in said bottom of the container, non-conductive cap nuts on said bolts outside said bottom of the container, a trunnion plate on the outside of said bottom of the container, screws of insulating material passing through said trunnion plate into the bottom of the container, said trunnion plate having a trunnion coaxial with said spindle, means having bearings receiving said trunnion and said spindle for rotatably suspending said container in the solution in said tank, and an anode in said solution outside said container.

8. The electroplating apparatus set forth in claim '1 wherein said cathode has an annular conductive portion concentric with the axis o! rotation of said container, and a plurality of radiating conductive arms projecting :trom theV bottom of the container.

9. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination with a tank for an electrolytic solution,

of a` permeable rotatable container for4 articles to be plated having coaxial bearing spindles,a mounting frame having a support bearing at each end of said container to receive said spindles and permit rotation oi' the container, means mounting said frame for oscillation about an axis transversely of the axis or rotation of said container and intermediate said bearings so that the container selectively can be suspended in the solution in said tank and swung upwardly out o! said solution, and means for rotating said container.

' JOHN T. DANIELE. 

